No Second Troy By W.B. Yeats summary and analysis

No Second Troy

William Butler Yeats

William Butler Yeats is a famous Irish poet, dramatist and one of the pioneers of the literary world in the twentieth century. He has made great contribution both in Irish and English literature. In 1923, Yeats was awarded the novel Prize in literature making him the first Irishman to be honored with the award. He loved an Irish revolutionary woman Maud Gonne but she rejects his proposal of marriage. The poem was written on the time when Maud Gonne had rejected him and she was participating in the revolution between Ireland and England.  She was so beautiful and courageous woman of a high-class family.

The poem No Second Troy is referring to the history of the Trojan War. In ancient Greek mythology, a place called Troy was devastated (ruined) by the Greeks in the Trojan War after Helen, the wife of King Menelaus (Sparta, Greek) ran away with Paris, the prince of Troy. Apparently, it was Helen, the most beautiful woman in Greece, who was blamed to be responsible for the destruction of Troy. Similarly, the poet compares the event of history with the revolution of the Irish. There was a conflict between England and Ireland. He keeps Maud Gonne in the place of Helen in the poem.

In the beginning part of the poem, the poet asks a rhetorical question that he doesn't like to blame her (Maud Gonne) for sending his life into misery. It means Yeats is referring to Maud Gonne who has sent his life into misery. He explains that he is not worried about the situation when his love was rejected by her. He is satirically accusing her of praising the innocent people into war. He complains about her activities like gathering the ignorant innocent Irish men for the revolution and praising the people living in a small street (living in a village) to fight against the great (modern town) Britain. This way of war is going to give any sense of victory, he questions. Do these Irish people have courage which is equal to their desire to fight against Britain (England)? The poet doesn't see anything which gives calm in her mind.

He describes her as very beautiful as a tightened Bow. It means she is strong enough for the war and revolution and there is nothing that could calm or kind her. The poet explains that what his beloved doing is not natural and suitable for her age. She is the people of higher class and becoming alone in the mass of people. There is nobody to show her sympathy. Her husband MacBride had already died. The poet wonders why she is so fierce and leading the revolution and what could she have done, what could she be, and what she really trying to do. The poet is challenging his beloved not to be like Helen cause of the destruction of troy. He asks himself if Maud Gonne was really trying to destroy Ireland as the troy.